Mulberries

Mulberries

　　Mulberries are the ripe fruit of the mulberry tree, a deciduous tree belonging to the Moraceae family. Also known as mulberry fruit, they are often picked and eaten fresh by farmers. With their sweet taste and juicy texture, mulberries are one of the fruits commonly consumed by people. Ripe mulberries are rich in oiliness, offering a well-balanced sweet and tangy flavor. Those that are large, plump, deep purple-red in color, and high in sugar content are considered the best. They are typically harvested between April and June each year, then washed, cleaned of impurities, and either dried in the sun or lightly steamed before drying.

　　Modern research has confirmed that mulberries are rich in glucose, sucrose, fructose, carotene, vitamins (provitamin A, B1, B2, PP, and C), malic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper, and zinc.

　　Mulberries can be used both as food and medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine considers them sweet and sour in taste, slightly cold in nature, and associated with the heart, liver, and kidney meridians. They are regarded as an excellent fruit for nourishing strength, benefiting the heart, and improving intelligence. Mulberries have the effects of enriching blood, nourishing yin, promoting fluid production to relieve thirst, and moistening intestinal dryness. They are primarily used to treat conditions caused by yin and blood deficiency, such as dizziness, tinnitus, palpitations, restlessness, insomnia, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, premature greying of hair, thirst and dry mouth in diabetes, and constipation.

　　Modern pharmacological studies also show that when mulberries enter the stomach, they can replenish gastric juice and promote digestion. When they reach the intestines, they stimulate the gastric mucosa, promote intestinal fluid secretion, and enhance gastrointestinal motility, thus providing a tonic and strengthening effect. This shows that mulberries are an excellent food for dietary therapy, and there are many varied ways to use them for this purpose.